The brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea) is a shy, largely solitary carnivore endemic to Southern Africa. It is the rarest of the four extant hyena species and is sometimes called the “strandwolf,” reflecting its unique coastal habitat. Known for its shaggy dark brown coat and pointed ears, the brown hyena is primarily a scavenger with a remarkable ability to survive in harsh, arid environments.
The Core Range Countries and Regions
The brown hyena’s geographic distribution is restricted almost entirely to the Southern African subregion. Core range countries include South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe, with smaller populations in parts of Angola, Mozambique, and Eswatini. The largest remaining populations are concentrated in arid and semi-arid landscapes.
Within these countries, brown hyenas are most numerous in specific regional boundaries. Significant populations exist in the vast, sandy expanses of the southern Kalahari Desert, spanning Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. They also inhabit the dry Karoo region of South Africa, preferring open, sparsely vegetated areas. Namibia is a particularly important stronghold, where the hyenas are widespread, extending their range to the coastal areas of Southwest Africa.
Specific Habitat Preferences
Brown hyenas are highly adapted to arid and semi-arid environments, inhabiting deserts, semi-deserts, open woodland savannahs, and scrublands. They typically avoid denser woodlands and floodplains. The species can survive without frequent drinking water, obtaining necessary fluids from their diet, including moisture-rich wild fruits like the tsama melon.
They prefer rocky or mountainous areas, which provide shade and suitable den sites. These rocky outcrops and thick vegetation offer necessary cover during the day, as the hyena is primarily nocturnal. Home range sizes vary dramatically, from around 40 square kilometers in protected reserves to over 2,000 square kilometers in resource-scarce coastal ecosystems.
The Namib Desert and the Skeleton Coast represent a critical and unique habitat, leading to the name “strandwolf.” Along this coastline, hyenas forage extensively on marine resources, including scavenged carrion and Cape fur seal pups during the pupping season. This coastal adaptation highlights the species’ opportunistic foraging strategy.
Factors Limiting Geographic Spread
The brown hyena’s range is restricted to Southern Africa due to a combination of ecological boundaries and human-related pressures. Ecologically, the lack of suitable arid habitat further north prevents their dispersal beyond the subregion’s boundaries. They tend to avoid areas with annual rainfall exceeding 700 mm, which limits their northern distribution.
A significant ecological limiting factor is interference competition with the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Spotted hyenas are dominant and will exclude brown hyenas from shared food sources, leading brown hyenas to avoid areas with high spotted hyena densities. This competitive pressure pushes the brown hyena toward more marginal, arid habitats where the spotted hyena population is lower.
Human development and activity also restrict the species’ geographic spread. Habitat fragmentation caused by agricultural expansion and predator-proof fencing prevents migration and limits access to new territories. Furthermore, human-wildlife conflict, often driven by the incorrect assumption that hyenas are killing livestock, leads to persecution, including poisoning and trapping, which further confines the population to its current boundaries.